Apparatus, system and methods for extracorporeal blood processing for selectively cooling the brain relative to the body during hyperthermic treatment or to induce hypothermia of the brain

Abstract

A system, apparatus and methods are provided for extra-corporeal blood treatment, and in particular for establishing and maintaining a neck down differential body temperature, while maintaining near normal brain temperatures, to protect the brain from extended or extreme hypothermia or hyperthermia. A blood treatment apparatus and system is provided for differential control of brain temperature and body temperature below the neck. For example, a first bypass circuit with heat exchanger for brain blood circulation maintains a near normal blood temperature, while a second bypass circuit for below the neck blood circulation provides for thermal treatment to induce a temperature differential, e.g. hyperthermia or hypothermia, relative to brain circulation. Such systems and apparatus have application, for example, for diagnostic and therapeutic treatments using hyperthermia, particularly for treatments of extended duration or at elevated temperatures above 42° C., for example, hyperthermia for treatment of cancer, infectious bacterial or viral diseases.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 61 / 164,713 filed Mar. 30, 2009, entitled “Neck Down Induced Hyperthermia with bypass cooling to the brain, for the treatment of Cancer, HIV and other Diseases”, which is incorporated herein by reference.TECHNICAL FIELD[0002]The invention relates to the field of induced hyperthermia or hypothermia for medical treatment and diagnostic purposes. The invention more particularly relates to bio-medical apparatus, systems and methods for extracorporeal blood processing and for establishing and maintaining an elevated body temperature for hyperthemia treatment of Cancer, HIV and other diseases.BACKGROUND ART[0003]Normal human body temperature, also known as normothermia or euthermia, depends upon the place in the body at which the measurement is made, and the time of day and level of activity of the person. Different parts of the body have different temperatures. Measurements ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0042]Another aspect of the invention provides a method for hypothermic or hyperthermic (thermotherapy) treatment characterized by:heating or cooling at least part of the body to a core body temperature above or below a normal body temperature from the neck down, while maintaining the brain at a relatively normal temperature, wherein the method is characterized by: “diverting blood flow from the heart to the brain via the carotid artery through a extracorporeal circulatory bypass system comprising a heat exchanger warming or cooling the blood flow to a target temperature,returning warmed or cooled blood to the carotid artery to provide a temperature differential between the core body temperature and brain temperature.

[0057]During elevated hyperthermia with a higher core body temperature, e.g. >44° C. it may be beneficial to cool a portion of the venous blood returning to the heart such that the heart and lungs are exposed to a venous blood at a temperature which is slightly lower than the below neck core body temperature. This may allow the majority of the body from the neck downwards to be exposed to more elevated temperature while keeping the heart and the blood flowing to the lungs at a slightly lower temperature thereby delaying the onset adverse reactions, such as cardiac arrest.

[0058]Thus methods, systems and apparatus according to aspects of the invention allow for a below neck core body temperature to be raised and maintained at an elevated temperature while the brain is kept at a lower temperature, or preferably, near normal temperature, thereby allowing the maximum attainable hyperthermic treatment temperatures to be increased, or alternatively, for the treatment duration to be extended. By maintaining the brain at a temperature differential from the body, to reduce risk of brain damage, as well as the physiological response, which is induced by the hypothalamus, a major limitation to raising the body temperature above 42° C. is overcome. Thus, for example, forms of cancer which are situated below the neck could be treated more aggressively using hyperthermia, while the brain would be maintained at relatively normal core body temperatures, or closer to a normal core body temperature.

[0059]Thus, systems, apparatus and method according to embodiments of the invention may provide for significantly extending the maximum treatment temperature, or alternatively the treatment duration, to which a patient can be safely subjected while reducing risk of serious side effects. Beneficially, if core body temperatures greater than 42° C. could be maintained for a reasonable treatment duration without adversely affecting the patient, hyperthermia may be used to more effectively treat and potentially cure such diseases as cancer, HIV, Hepatitis C and potentially other diseases. Alternatively, treatment may be more effective if core body temperatures currently achievable, e.g. below 42° C., could be maintained for longer periods of time.

[0065]Thus improved systems, apparatus and methods are provided for extracorporeal blood processing for establishing and maintaining below the neck body temperature differential, i.e. hypothermia or hypothermia, for thermotherapy while maintaining the brain at a relatively normal temperature. In particular, hyperthermia treatments may be provided at higher temperatures, e.g. 42° C. or more and / or with extended duration, with reduced risk of brain damage and other detrimental effects, for treatment of cancer and other diseases and medical conditions.

Problems solved by technology

However, it is difficult to ensure that the entire tumour is being exposed to sufficiently high temperatures without overheating the surrounding tissues.

Studies have shown that the human brain begins to show damage when the core temperature reaches 41° C. Damage to the brain, as well as the physiological response induced by the hypothalamus, are key limitations to raising human body temperature above 42° C.

For elevated hyperthermia treatment as described above, such as system would be problematical, because heated blood flow from the body would enter the brain directly during the intake stroke of the pump, with potentially detrimental effects.

Not only is this system is complex and expensive, but the procedure involves anaesthesia and complete separation CNS circulation from the rest of the body, with associated risks to the patient.

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